Army warns as thousands march against Algeria's Bouteflika

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Algiers on Friday (March 29) to demand the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, in the biggest demonstration since unrest erupted six weeks ago.

On Saturday, Algeria's army chief repeated a proposal on Saturday to declare President Abdelaziz Bouteflika unfit for office under article 102 of the constitution and told opponents not to seek to undermine the military.

Army Chief of Staff Ahmed Gaed Salah said in a statement issued by the Defence Ministry on Saturday that most people supported the army's plan but some were resisting.

“In the light of these developments, the attitude of the National People's Army remains constant, since it always falls within the framework of constitutional legitimacy and puts the interests of the Algerian people above all considerations. The Army always believes that the solution of the crisis can only done by activating articles 7, 8 and 102 of the Constitution.

All proposals which come from  suspicious meetings and do not comply with constitutional legitimacy or touch the Army are considered red lines and totally unacceptable and will be confronted by the National People's Army in all legal ways.